A coin dispensing device

Abstract

 The coin dispensing device (D) comprises: a main body (6) having an upper wall (61), a disc element (7) mounted on the upper wall (61) such as to be set in rotation (w) about a rotation axis (R) perpendicular to the wall (61), and which is provided with circular through-seatings (71) for receiving corresponding coins, a motor organ (8) for setting the disc element (7) in rotation (w), a coin outlet slot (9) and coin switching means (5) for switching coins towards the slot (9). The coin switching means (5) comprise: at least a curved through-slot (51) made in the upper wall (61); an annular element (52) which bears at least a tooth (54) and which is mounted, with respect to the main body (6), in such a way that the tooth (54) is inserted in the slot (51) and projecting beyond the upper wall (61) and in such a way as to be rotatable with respect to a rotation axis (V) perpendicular to the wall (61) such that the tooth (54) can slide in the slot (51); an elastic organ (58) constrained, at a first end, to an internal wall of the main body (6) and, at a second end, connected to a part of the annular element (52).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the special technical sector concerning devices for dispensing coins, which are usually used in automatic dispensers, into the payment machines of car parks, slot machines, video games, etc., as change-tellers and/or money-exchange machines and/or dispensers of winnings.

[0002] In the following description the term "coin" will be used, but the device of the present invention also extends to the dispensing of tokens or other credit elements and such-like payouts.

[0003] A coin dispensing device of the prior art is described in document WO 2004/114228 and illustrated in figures 1A and 1B.

[0004] This known device comprises a main body (1), a disc element (2) mounted on the main body and a secondary body (3), shaped as a hopper, with a circular opening (30) on the bottom, which is mountable above the main body (1) so that the circular opening is arranged above the disc element (2).

[0005] The main body (1) is conformed such as to exhibit an inclined wall (11) on which the disc element (2) is mounted rotatably about a rotation axis that is perpendicular to the inclined wall (11).

[0006] The disc element (2) is provided with circular through-seatings (21), each of which exhibits a shape and dimension that are suitable for receiving and internally retaining a corresponding coin.

[0007] The device further comprises a motor organ which is mounted and predisposed internally of the main body (1) and which by means of a mechanical relay organ, for example a cogwheel, is connected to the disc element (2) in such a way that the disc element (2) can be set in rotation about the rotation axis.

[0008] The hopper-shaped secondary body (3) functions as a coin receptacle, the coins being fed therein from a relative store: the coins present in the secondary body (3) stack above the disc element (2) and time by time each coin inserts and becomes located internally of a corresponding circular through-seating (21) of the disc element (2), going to rest on the inclined wall (11) of the main body (1).

[0009] The activation in rotation of the disc element (2), by means of activation of the motor organ, is such that the coins that fall into the circular seatings (21) are set in rotation along an annular path, sliding restingly on the inclined wall up until they reach the switching means (4) which project through rectangular slots (41) present on the inclined wall.

[0010] The switching means deviate the coin towards an outlet slot (14) present on a lateral face of the main body (1) so that it can be dispensed externally of the device.

[0011] The switching means (4) of this prior-art device are constituted by a pair of teeth (40) which project from the inclined wall (11) through the rectangular slots (31) presented therein and which are borne, in a single body, by a support element (42) which is mounted and predisposed below the inclined wall (11) such as to be pivoted and rotatable about an axis (B) parallel to the inclined wall (11).

[0012] The switching means (4) further comprise an elastic organ (43), for example a spring (43), which is fixed, at a first end, to the support element (42) and at a second end to an element connected to an internal wall of the main body (1).

[0013] The spring (43) retains the support element (42) in a first position (illustrated in figure 1 B), so that the two teeth (40) are also maintained in a first position closed to an end of the slots (41).

[0014] Once activated in rotation, when the disc element (2) guides the money present in a relative circular seating (21) to impact against the teeth (40), the continuous rotation of the disc element (2) causes the coin to push the teeth (40) and forces the support element (42) to rotate about the hinge axis thereof (B), overcoming the elastic force of the spring (43) which is thus compressed.

[0015] In this way the teeth (40) are displaced into the slots (41) up to reaching and abutting against the opposite end of the slots (41) so as to halt against them: in this way the coin present in the circular seating (21) of the disc element (2), which continues rotating, is deviated by the teeth (40) towards the outlet slots (14).

[0016] The support element (42) is then recalled into the original position thereof by the elastic return force of the spring (43), and by rotating in the opposite direction with respect to the hinge axis (B) returns the teeth (40) into the above-mentioned first position.

[0017] A device such as the above exhibits various drawbacks.

[0018] Firstly, the structure and arrangement of the switching means has been revealed not to be particularly effective as the teeth have to rotate, via the hinged support element, about a rotation axis that is parallel to the inclined wall and to move in a straight direction in the rectangular slots, the development of which does not follow the circular movement of the coins.

[0019] Consequently, the force components that act on the teeth, and which transmit to the spring, are relevant.

[0020] Therefore the spring, in the long run, is subjected to considerable stresses which can compromise the integrity and consequently reduce and limit, over time, the effectiveness of the switching action of the coins towards the outlet slot by the teeth.

[0021] Secondly, a further drawback is constituted by the out-of-centre position in which the motor organ is mounted with respect to the rotation axis of the disc element which imposes use of a mechanical relay element, such as the cogwheel, for connection thereof to the disc element.

[0022] The stockpiling of coins that are conveyed above the disc element can also be relevant and thus a considerable weight bears down on the disc: the out-of-centre arrangement of the activating shaft of the motor with respect to the rotation element of the disc element (2) constitutes a problem as a greater torque is necessary in order to be able to set the disc element in rotation.

[0023] Further, the fact that the activating shaft of the motor is out-of-centre with respect to the rotation of the disc element can lead to problems of machine unbalancing.

[0024] The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a new coin dispensing device able to obviate the drawbacks of the above-described prior-art device.

[0025] In particular, the aim of the present invention is to provide a new coin dispensing device provided with a structure of the switching means which is particularly effective in switching the coins and able to guarantee, over time, excellent switching of the coins towards the outlet slot.

[0026] A further aim of the present invention is to provide a coin dispensing device exhibiting an activating structure of the disc element for moving the coins that is more balanced and more effective with respect to the prior-art device.

[0027] The cited aims are obtained in accordance with a coin dispensing device according to claim 1.

[0028] Further advantageous characteristics of the device of the present invention are set down in the various claims depending on claim 1.

[0029] The characteristics of the coin dispensing device of the present invention are described in the following with reference to the appended tables of drawings, in which:

• figure 1A, already cited in the foregoing, illustrates, in a perspective view, the prior-art device described in document WO 2004/114228 with the secondary body (3) removed from the main body (1) so as to evidence the disc element (2) with relative circular seatings (21) and the switching means (4) which project from the rectangular slots (41) present on the inclined surface (11);
• figure 1B, also already cited in the foregoing, illustrates, in a partial perspective view, taken from the lower part of the inclined surface (11), the structure of the switching means (4) of the prior-art device of figure 1 A;
• figure 2 is a perspective view of the coin dispensing device of the present invention;
• figure 3 illustrates, in a view from above, significant elements of the device of the invention;
• figure 4 illustrates, in a perspective exploded view, some of the components constituting the device of the invention;
• figure 5A is the same view from above of figure 3, where the disc element has been removed so as to highlight other details of components of the device, such as the wall on which the disc element rests and the location of the coin switching means;
• figure 5B is the same view from above of figure 5A, where the inclined wall has been omitted so as to highlight the structure of the coin switching means.

[0030] With reference to figures 2, 3, 4, 5A and 5B, reference letter (D) denotes the coin dispensing device of the present invention in its entirety.

[0031] The device (D) comprises: a main body (6) exhibiting an upper wall (61), a disc element (7) mounted on the external face of the upper wall (61) so as to be set in rotation with respect to the wall (61) about a rotation axis (R) perpendicular to the wall (61) and passing through the centre of the disc element (7).

[0032] The disc element (7) is provided with circular through-seatings (71) each of which has a suitable shape for receiving and containing internally thereof a corresponding coin (see for example figure 3).

[0033] The device (D) also comprises a secondary body (65) (visible in figure 2) which is mountable and associable above the main body (6); the secondary body (65) exhibits a hopper shape with the aim of being able to internally contain a mass of coins, for example coming from an overlying store (not illustrated), and is provided with a passage for conveying the coins above the disc element (7).

[0034] The device (D) also comprises a motor organ (8) (visible for example in figure 4) which serves to set the disc element (7) in rotation (w) about the relative rotation axis (R) in such a way that the coins present in the circular seatings (71) of the disc element (7) are moved according to a circular path, sliding above the upper wall (61) of the main body (6).

[0035] The device (D) also comprises a coin outlet slot (9) which is provided on a lateral wall of the main body (6) and coin switching means (5) for switching the coins present in the circular seating (71), which are moved along the circular path, from the circular path towards the coin outlet slot (9).

[0036] The special characteristics of the device (D) of the present invention relate to the structure and conformation of the coin switching means (5).

[0037] These special characteristics consist in the fact that the coin switching means comprise:

• at least a through-slot (51) having a curved shape and realised in the upper wall (61) in such a way as to be situated along a portion of the circular path of coin movement (see for example figure 5A);
• an annular element (52) which bears at least a tooth (54), the annular element (52) being predisposed and mounted with respect to the main body (6) in such a way as to be positioned below the internal face of the relative upper wall (61) and in such a way that the tooth (54) is inserted in the curved slot (51) and projecting beyond the external face of the upper wall (61) and such as to be rotatable with respect to a rotation axis (V) perpendicular to the wall (61) so that the tooth (54) can slide in the slot (51) between a first position, in contact with a first end of the slot (51), for encountering the coins moved by the disc element (7), and a second abutting position against the other end of the slot (51), for switching the coins towards the outlet slot (9),

• an elastic organ (58) constrained, at a first end, to an internal wall of the main body (6) and, at a second end, connected to a part of the annular element (52), such as to maintain the annular element (52) and consequently the tooth (54) in the above-mentioned first position internally of the slot (51), for encountering a coin moved by the disc element (7) along the circular path.

[0038] In this way, when the coin is moved by the disc element (7) it impacts against the tooth (54) located in the first position, causing the continuation of the rotation of the disc element (7) and therefore the movement of the coin along the relative circular path determines the displacement of the tooth (54) internally of the slot (51) and therefore the rotation of the annular element (52) and consequently the loading of the elastic organ (58), up to when the tooth (54) reaches the second position in abutment against the other end of the slot (51), causing the switching of the coin towards the outlet slot (9).

[0039] Consequently the elastic organ, thus-loaded and no longer being forced by the thrust action of the coin against the tooth (54), causes the return of the annular element (52) and therefore the tooth (54) into the first position so that it encounters a following coin.

[0040] This structure, conformation and arrangement of the coin switching means has been shown to be particularly effective, as the tooth (54) and the annular element (52) bearing it are set in rotation about an axis that is perpendicular to the wall (61), i.e. according to an axis that is parallel to the rotation axis of the disc element (7) which moves the coins.

[0041] In practice the rotation of the annular element (52) and the movement of the tooth (54) internally of the curved slot (51) favours the movement of the coins along the relative circular movement path and therefore, consequently, the forces the coins are subject to, and which transmit to the elastic organ, are lower than in the case of the prior art device.

[0042] This guarantees optimal switching action of the coins over time.

[0043] Other advantageous characteristics of the proposed device (D) are set out in the following.

[0044] The annular element (52) exhibits, in a single body, a first tab (53) projecting radially towards an outside of the annular element (52), on which first tab (53) the tooth (54) is present in a single body.

[0045] In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, two teeth (54) are present on the first tab (53) of the annular element (52), and consequently there are also two corresponding curved slots (53).

[0046] In other possible embodiments, not illustrated, there might also be the presence of more than two teeth, such as for example three or four teeth, with a corresponding number of curved through-slots on the upper wall (61) of the main body (6).

[0047] The annular element (52) also exhibits a second tab (56) projecting radially towards an outside, with the second end of the elastic organ (58) which is constrained to the second tab (54).

[0048] In particular, in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the second projecting tab (56) is formed in a single body with the annular element (52) in a position that is diametrical with respect to the first tab (53) which bears the tooth (54), so as to give greater stability and balancing of the annular element (52).

[0049] In this regard, as illustrated in particular in figure 5B, the annular element (52) also exhibits, in a single body, a third tab (57) projecting radially externally and a fourth tab (59) projecting externally, which are arranged in respective positions diametrical to one another and intercalated between the first tab (53), which bears the tooth (54), and the second tab (56), having a function of stiffening and balancing the annular element (52) with respect to the rotation axis thereof.

[0050] In the illustrated embodiment, the motor organ (8) is predisposed and mounted so as to be arranged below the upper wall (61) of the main body (6) and in such a way that the relative activating arm (82) centrally crosses the wall (61) so as to be connected to the disc element (7) at the rotation axis (R) thereof (see for example figure 4).

[0051] The device further comprises a cylindrical support element (81) for supporting and positioning the motor organ (8) (for example visible in figure 4), which cylindrical element (81) is mounted and predisposed, with respect to the main body (1), such that the annular element (52) is mounted so as to be concentric to the cylindrical support element (81).

[0052] In this embodiment, the motor organ (8) and the annular element (52) are predisposed and mounted with respect to the main body (6) in such a way that the activating shaft (82), and therefore the rotation axis (R) of the disc, is parallel to the rotation axis (V) of the annular element (52) (see for example figure 5B).

[0053] In other embodiments, not illustrated, the device (D) can be made and constructed in such a way that the annular element (52) is predisposed and mounted with respect to the main body (6) in such a way that the rotation axis thereof coincides with the rotation axis of the disc element (7).

Claims

1. A coin dispensing device (D), comprising:

- a main body (6) having an upper wall (61);

- a disc element (7) mounted on the external face of the upper wall (61) in such a way as to be set in rotation (w) with respect to the wall (61) about a rotation axis (R) that is perpendicular to the wall (61) and passing through a centre of the disc element (7), the disc element (7) being provided with circular through-seatings (71), each of which has a suitable shape for internally receiving and containing a corresponding coin;

- a secondary body (65), mountable and associable above the main body (6), for containing a mass of coins and provided with a passage for conveying the coins above the disc element (7);

- a motor organ (8) for setting the disc element (7) in rotation (w) about the relative rotation axis (R) in such a way that the coins present in the circular seatings (71) of the disc element (7) are moved according to a circular path, sliding above the upper wall (61) of the main body (6);

- a coin outlet slot (9) provided on a lateral wall of the main body (6);

- coin switching means (5) for switching the coins present in the circular seating (71), and which are moved along the circular path, from the circular path towards the coin outlet slot (9);

characterised in that the coin switching means (5) comprise:

- at least a through-slot (51) having a curved shape and realised in the upper wall (61) in such a way as to be situated along a portion of the circular path of coin movement;

- an annular element (52) which bears at least a tooth (54), the annular element (52) being predisposed and mounted with respect to the main body (6) in such a way as to be positioned below the internal face of the relative upper wall (61) and in such a way that the tooth (54) is inserted in the curved slot (51) and projecting beyond the external face of the upper wall (61) and such as to be rotatable with respect to a rotation axis (V) perpendicular to the wall (61) so that the tooth (54) can slide in the slot (51) between a first position, in contact with a first end of the slot (51), for encountering the coins moved by the disc element (7), and a second abutting position against the other end of the slot (51), for switching the coins towards the outlet slot (9),

- an elastic organ (58) constrained, at a first end, to an internal wall of the main body (6) and, at a second end, connected to a part of the annular element (52), such as to maintain the annular element (52) and consequently the tooth (54) in the above-mentioned first position internally of the slot (51), for encountering a coin moved by the disc element (7) along the circular path, the movement of the coin by the disc element (7) causing a displacement of the tooth (54) internally of the slot (51), and thus the rotation of the annular element (52) and consequently the loading of the elastic organ (58), up to when the tooth (54) reaches the second position in abutment against the other end of the slot (51), causing switching of the coin towards the outlet slot (9), the elastic organ, thus-loaded, consequently determining the return of the annular element (52) and therefore of the tooth (54) into the first position so that it encounters a following coin.

2. The device of claim 1, characterised in that the annular element (52) exhibits, in a single body, a first tab (53) projecting radially towards an outside, the tooth (54) being realized in a single body on the first tab (53).

3. The device of claim 2, characterised in that the annular element (52) further exhibits a second tab (56) projecting towards the outside and wherein the second end of the elastic organ (58) is constrained to the second tab (54).

4. The device of claim 3, characterised in that the second projecting tab (56) is formed in a single body with the annular element (52) in a position which is diametrical with respect to the first tab (53) bearing the tooth (54).

5. The device of claim 4, characterised in that the annular element (52) further exhibits, in a single body, a third tab (57) projecting towards the outside and a fourth tab (59) projecting towards the outside, which are arranged in respective positions diametrical to one another and intercalated between the first tab (53), which bears the tooth (54), and the second tab (56), having a function of stiffening and balancing the annular element (52) with respect to the rotation axis thereof.

6. The device of any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the motor organ (8) is predisposed and mounted such as to be arranged below the upper wall (61) of the main body (6) and in such a way that the relative activating shaft (82) centrally crosses the wall (61) so as to be connected to the disc element (7) at the rotation axis (R) thereof.

7. The device of the preceding claim, characterised in that it comprises a cylindrical support element (81) for supporting and positioning the motor organ (8), which cylindrical element (81) is mounted and predisposed, with respect to the main body (1), such that the annular element (52) is mounted such as to be concentric to the cylindrical support element (81).

Drawing